Aerial tramway system



United States Patent PATENTEU 05u29 mm SHEET 1 F 3 INVENTOR Edward J. Lesh PATENTED DE02 919m' SHEET E UF 3 INVENTOR Edward J. Lesh PMENTEU [1m29 :am

SHEEY 3 UF 3 INVENTOR Edward J. Lesh 29%? 7/ IIIIIII 1 AERIAL TRAMWAY SYSTEM This invention relates to aerial tramway means and particularly to an aerial tramway means incorporating a portable tower made up of a plurality of separable sections.

In checking out tramway or high line systems in the Patent Office files, l found them being used for ski lifts, cargo carriers, ore carriers, ship loading and unloading, etc. They were made of timber and metal, stone cement and metal, metal and cement foundations, etc. They were bolted, screwed, welded and threaded together with couplings or male and female ends screwed together. None of the systems we checked would give maximum interchangeability, ease of erection or takedown, day or night.

In the loading and unloading of ships offshore, using above systems, surface turbulence, wave and swell can cause a slow down to a complete halt to operations.

I have projected an Aerial Tramway System," keeping in mind, maximum interchangeability, ease of erection or takedown, day or night. It is a system which provides unique flexibility of use and ease of erection.

Preferably l provide in the aerial tramway system of my invention a portable tower including a plurality of separably connected sections, a base anchoring said tower, means mounted on the tower'to support a cable for travel thereover over a tram car, said means including at least one detachable ring attached thereto adjacent its top, each ring having a depending J-shaped supporting element provided with a saddle means to directly support a cable, a riser on the lowermost section ofthe tower, a mounting element having a socket into which the lower end of the riser is interfitted, and a ball-andsocket connection between said mounting element and base. Preferably means, such as a turnbuckle, are provided clamping the mounting element and riser in said nterfitting relationship. Preferably the tower is provided with angular brace supports hinged thereto adjacent the top thereof and a base means anchoring said tower and brace supports. Depending anchoring spur means are preferably provided on the base.

The invention is perhaps best understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tower for use in my system;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the tower of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a second modification of tower according to my invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view partly cut away of a base for the tower members of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a section on the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a joint in a tower according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of atop assembly of a tower according to my invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged'elevational view of the brace connection according to my invention.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated a tramway tower made up of risers 10 made of hollow pipe and closed at each end by a hollow cup member ll welded in place to seal the pipe making it floatable for easy handling in water. Each pipe is provided with a valve 12 intermediate its ends whereby water or air may be let into the interior as desired to float or sink the pipe. A pair of veye members 13 and 14 are placed on opposite sides of each pipe adjacent the ends to receive a whip and turnbuckle l5 for fastening the ends in place. Two risers may be fastened together by means of a connector 16 having ends adapted to snugly fit within cups 1l of the risers. Preferably an angular shoulder 17 is provided on each connector spaced from the ends a distance equal to the depth of cups 11. Each of the risers and cups is provided with a vent hole 18 to permit escape of air or water from cup l1 when connector I6 is inserted. When a horizontal brace member 20 is to be used, a T-connector is provided as shown in FIG. 6. The riser members may be braced with angular risers having a hinge end 2l adapted to fit within hinge arm 22 welded to a riser l0. At the top of the riser a T-shaped head 23 may be applied carrying depending I-shaped hangers 24 for carrying the tramway cable or track (not shown).

A base pivot member 25 having a ball 26 at the bottom end is inserted in the cup member l1 at the bottom of the tower riser I0. The ball is fitted in a socket 27 and held by a keeper 28. The socket 27 is mounted on a base 30 made up of a square box like structure having a bottom 3l, sides 32 through 35 and a top 36. Within the box is provided a layer of side-byside tubes 37 on the bottom 31 and a second layer of sidebyside tubes 38 at right angles thereto. Over the two layers of tubes is placed an X-frame of I-beams 39 which supports the case socket 27 held within a frame of channels 40. Each end of each of the tubes 37 and 38 is provided with a notch 4I providing communication into the tube. A valve 42 is provided in the bottom 31 to permit water to enter the assembly to cause it to sink. A valve 42 in the top plate permits escape of air to facilitate water ingress. An inflation valve 43 is provided for blowing water out of the base to refloat it. An X- shaped spade base 45 is formed on the base 3l to hold it in place in soil, silt or sand.

The structure is assembled by floating a base into position and fastening a first riser in place by inserting the ball 26 in socket 27 and reeving a cable 50 through loops I3 and I4 on the first riser l0 and the base. Additional risers are placed in position to form a vertical member as shown in either FIGS. 1 or 3 and a top member 23 placed thereon. In the form shown in FIG. l brace risers are fastened to the vertical riser using the hinge 2l shown in FIG. 8. Cross braces 20 are added using the T joint of FIG. 6. The whole assembly can be assembled and floated into position and sunk by opening valves 41 and 42 which let water into the base causing the base to sink and the spade to engage the bottom. The necessary cable or track is then fixed to the hangers 24.

While I have illustrated and described certain presently preferred practices and embodiments of my invention in the foregoing specification it will be obvious that it may be otherwise embodied.

Iclaim:

l. Aerial tramway means comprising a portable tower, said tower including a plurality of separably connected sections, a base means anchoring said tower, means mounted on the tower to support a cable for travel thereover of a tram car and the like, said means including at least one detachable ring attached thereto adjacent its top, each ring having a depending .I-shaped supporting element provided with a saddle means to directly support a cable, a riser on the lowermost section of said tower, a mounting element having a socket into which the lower end of the riser is interfitted, and a ball-and-socket connection between said mounting element and base.

2. Aerial tramway apparatus according to claim 1 having means clamping the mounting element and riser in said interfitting relation.

3. Aerial tramway apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the last mentioned means includes a turnbuckle.

4. Aerial tramway apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tower is in separably connected section.

5. Aerial tramway apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tower has angular brace supports hinged thereto adjacent the top thereof, and a base means anchoring said tower and base supports.

6. Aerial tramway apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the last mentioned means includes ball-and-socket connection.

7. Aerial tramway apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said base means has depending anchoring spur means. 

